Results 461-480 of 21,356 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (8 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: I am committed to exploring a range of mechanisms to seek to secure public bikes schemes in other cities, including Galway. My Department and the National Transport Authority are currently considering the findings of analysis undertaken and the outcome of symposiums held in November including how to address key issues identified. For example, while a scheme in a city such as Galway is...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 637 and 638 together. My Department is funding an ongoing programme of accessibility improvement grants to upgrade existing public transport infrastructure and facilities. This includes funding for the provision of upgraded bus stops to facilitate wheelchair accessible buses (Dublin Bus) in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and wheelchair accessible coaches (Bus...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: The regulation of the taxi industry, including issues pertaining to the renewal and transfer of vehicle licences, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. Currently, certain categories of SPSV vehicle licences are non-transferable, meaning they are individual to the person to whom they are issued and cannot be...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: There is no specific funding support available under a Smarter Travel Jobs Initiative Scheme in 2012. However, I am also pleased that strong levels of investment in smarter travel have been secured under the multi-annual capital funding framework to 2016 which will be invested in smarter travel infrastructure under a range of new programmes to be established this year. The total Smarter...

Written Answers — Cycling Policy: Cycling Policy (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: Recognising the success of the Dublinbikes scheme, the Programme for Government commits my Department to look to extend the scheme to other cities and integrate the scheme more effectively with public transport links. Following an analysis, carried out at my request, on the potential for the expansion of the Dublinbikes scheme to other cities, consultations on the potential for and means of...

Written Answers — Rural Transport: Rural Transport (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: The Programme for Government 2011 recognises the importance of the rural transport network as being "vital for rural communities as a reliable and sustainable transport service" and includes a commitment to "maintain and extend the Rural Transport Programme with other local transport services as much as is practicable". Following a recent Government Decision, I announced plans on 28th...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: The promotion of smarter travel is a key policy objective of my Department, and indeed of the Government. Our aim is to make smarter travel choices available for all, by establishing safe walking and cycling routes, by funding national and local public transport services and by actively promoting smarter travel. Smarter travel choices benefit the individual as they are cheaper and healthier,...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (13 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) on 1st December 2009, the implementation of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI), now comes under the remit of the NTA. The Authority's functions were subsequently extended by Ministerial Order to include provision of RTPI to the four major regional cities...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulation: Taxi Regulation (14 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 to 208, inclusive, together. The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including issues relating to the setting of the maximum fare for SPSV services and the regulation of dispatch operators, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. I should add however that I do not envisage...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulation: Taxi Regulation (14 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: The regulation of the taxi industry, including issues pertaining to vehicle standards, is a matter for the NTA under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. I have arranged for your question to be sent to the NTA for direct reply. If you have not received a response within ten working days, please notify my private office.

Written Answers — Taxi Regulation: Taxi Regulation (15 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 154 together. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the regulation of the taxi sector and is also the lead Agency with responsibility for the implementation of the proposals of the Taxi Regulation Review Report. I should add that the focus of the Taxi Regulation Review, which I chaired, was to enable the necessary further reforms...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy (15 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly. Heroin use continues to be concentrated primarily in Dublin and other urban centres, particularly in Leinster and the south of the country. While the prevalence of heroin has stabilised in the Dublin area, its use has become more widely dispersed around the country. One of the aims of the national drugs strategy is...

Seanad: National Drugs Strategy (15 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: I will pass on the Senator's sentiments to the Minister for Health, to whom the question was addressed, and the responsible Minister of State, Deputy Róisín Shortall, who has a particular interest in the matter and done a lot of work in the area.

Seanad: Cycle Lanes (15 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and for giving me the opportunity to outline the Government's commitment to smarter travel and to address the issue in question. My Department provided almost €10 million in capital funding for projects under the jobs initiative scheme, which included the improvement of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and other sustainable transport measures...

Seanad: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: I thank Senator Landy for raising this matter, to which I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. I wish to outline to Members the allocation process for primary schools, including the reforms to the teacher allocation process that are being made and that will take effect from September 2012, and in so doing I will address some of the Senator's...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (22 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: Statistics relating to small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences, are a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA), who regulate the SPSV sector. I have referred the Deputy's request for information to the NTA for direct reply. He should advise my Office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.

Public Transport (28 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: The operation and provision of bus services is a matter for Dublin Bus in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, NTA. The operation of the Luas service is a matter for the operator, Veolia Transdev, in conjunction with the Railway Procurement Agency and the NTA. Each year, funding is provided for socially necessary but non-commercial public transport services in Ireland. In the...

Public Transport (28 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: The Luas opened in 2004 and operated at a profit without a subvention every year until 2011, when it operated at a deficit of €3.1 million as a result of the economic downturn. That is why changes and cost savings are now required in addition to the fare increases that have been implemented. Deputy Boyd Barrett is well aware that the Luas lines were extended into the Cherrywood and...

Public Transport (28 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: If the Deputy knows a way of getting another 5,000 people employed in that area, I am sure the operators of the Luas will consider providing more frequent Luas services to the area. Obviously, that would be a huge development. The operators are working in conjunction with the National Transport Authority to ensure the level of service that is provided meets the demand for that service. I...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (28 Mar 2012)

Alan Kelly: Action 22 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report clearly sets out the intention of the Review Group with regard to the commencement of Section 36 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 concerning the mandatory disqualification from holding a licence with regard to convictions. As I indicated to the Oireachtas Joint Committee last month there can be no tolerance for criminality within the taxi sector...